Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-03-01
THE GOLD BELT.
A CURSORY STATEMENT OF ITS
WEALTH AND POSSIBILITIES.

Report Of Some Promising Mining
Claims Which Will supply Ore for
the HALEY and Gold Belt Railway TO
Haul--Eic.
The Gold Belt is situated about
10 miles from HALEY, in a south
westerly direction, and access to it
is easy. No more pleasant drive can
be found anywhere in the mountains
in the summer time than up~Croy
gulch to the head of Camp creek
Croy gulch is not rugged, narrow
canyon, as one would suppose from
its name, but broad, beautiful val
ley, fenced and settled for six miles
continuously from the town Of Hal
ley. The goldbearing region is from
four to five miles in width, and five
to twenty miles in length, as at pres,
ent developed; but as the granite
formation of which this district is
composed extends many miles to the
north and westward Of Camas Prairie
and in the direction of the South
Boise river, there can be no doubt
but what, with additional prospect
ing, the gold-bearing region will
prove to be much more extensive.
The lodges are to be found on the
head waters Of Rock creek, Camp
creek, Beaver creek, and Willow
creek; but up to the present time
the chief development has been made
ON Rock creek and Camp creek, and
within an area of four or five miles.
The work done during the last year
has shown such large bodies of gold
bearing quartz, the lodges are SO
continuous and so -defned-in
short, the general development of the
district has been of such highly
, satisfactory character, that the ne
. cessity for 4 railroad to aid in the
further development of the locality
has become apparent to all. The
. fact is now self-evident that there is
not more than enough water on thu
| Gold Belt for domestic use, none fol
power, and certainly not enough fo
milling purposes. In view Of thi
fact, it becomes necessary to shil
the output of the mines to poin
where water can be had. After
careful survey of the situation, ant
examining into the merits of the dit
ferent localities, it is evident tina
= Wood River furnishes abundan
water both for milling purposes ant
:, for power. While the route up Gro,
gulch to Camp creek and to tn
heart Of the Col Belt is of such al
easy natural grade that it offers n
obstacle to the cheap and easy build
ing of the road, and it's economical
working, the need of the road bein!
admitted and the fact that a feasibl
~ route is open by way of Croy gulcl
to Wood River st the town of HALEY
the only point to determine is: Viii
y the resources of the country justif,
~ the building of the road? In orde
! that there may be no doubt on thi
+" point, l have taken not little pain
g to secure the subjoined facts for til
u information of those who might b
disposed to embark in such an enter
prise.
Let this fact be distinctly under
lie stand at the outset: That in no cas-
re have exaggerated statements bee
l. INDUCED in. At all times it ha
Or been my aim rather to under-est
Ia mate than otherwise, and feel cor
lie fident that time will prove the col
C. rectness of whatever statement
a herein mace.
Id Before entering upon detaile
$ description of the different mines
er the district, let me submit the 70
ar lowing facts: The lodges are of cas-
H. access; one can ride to almost any
he them in buggy; and even durin
er the present winter, which has bee
I'd one of unusual severity, roads ha,
been kept open aud the work of d
velopnent has progressed witho,
serious delay.
Id Tue granite which forms the cou
NJ try rock is soft and easily worke
NV At the surface it has decompost
OH and forms fine gravelly loan, whit
he in making roads requires bat the II
of of a pillow and scraper. AS no hal
of rock crops to the surface, no blastir
,t. need be resorted to. The Jum|
MINING Comnany durinO the la